@rangojs/router 0.0.0-experimental.21 → 0.0.0-experimental.21efdd86

package/src/types/handler-context.ts

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import type {
   ResolvedRouteMap,
 } from "./route-config.js";
 import type { LoaderDefinition } from "./loader-types.js";
+import type { UseItems, HandlerUseItem } from "../route-types.js";
 
 // Re-export MiddlewareFn for internal/advanced use
 export type { MiddlewareFn } from "../router/middleware.js";
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ export type Handler<
     | Record<string, any> = {},
   TRouteMap extends {} = DefaultHandlerRouteMap,
   TEnv = DefaultEnv,
-> = (
+> = ((
   ctx: HandlerContext<
     T extends `.${infer Local}`
       ? Local extends keyof TRouteMap
@@ -160,7 +161,10 @@ export type Handler<
       : ExtractSearchFromEntry<DefaultHandlerRouteMap, T>,
     TRouteMap extends DefaultHandlerRouteMap ? never : TRouteMap
   >,
-) => ReactNode | Promise<ReactNode> | Response | Promise<Response>;
+) => ReactNode | Promise<ReactNode> | Response | Promise<Response>) & {
+  /** Composable default DSL items merged when the handler is mounted. */
+  use?: () => UseItems<HandlerUseItem>;
+};
 
 /**
  * Context passed to handlers (Hono-inspired type-safe context)
@@ -170,7 +174,7 @@ export type Handler<
  * - Cleaned route URL (`url`, `searchParams`, `pathname` — no `_rsc*` params)
  * - Original request (`request` — raw transport URL, headers, method, body)
  * - Platform bindings (env.DB, env.KV, env.SECRETS)
- * - Middleware variables (var.user, var.permissions)
+ * - Middleware variables (`get("user")`, `get("permissions")`)
  * - Getter/setter for variables (get('user'), set('user', ...))
  *
  * @example
@@ -178,8 +182,7 @@ export type Handler<
  * const handler = (ctx: HandlerContext<{ slug: string }, AppEnv>) => {
  *   ctx.params.slug        // Route param (string)
  *   ctx.env.DB             // Binding (D1Database)
- *   ctx.var.user           // Variable (User | undefined)
- *   ctx.get('user')        // Alternative getter
+ *   ctx.get('user')        // Variable (User | undefined)
  *   ctx.set('user', {...}) // Setter
  *   ctx.url                // Clean URL (no _rsc* params)
  *   ctx.searchParams       // Clean params (no _rsc* params)
@@ -206,6 +209,12 @@ export type HandlerContext<
    * Live request rendering, including passthrough fallback, uses `false`.
    */
   build: boolean;
+  /**
+   * True when running in Vite dev mode, false during production build or
+   * live request rendering. Use this to branch on runtime mode without
+   * changing build semantics (e.g., skip expensive operations in dev).
+   */
+  dev: boolean;
   /**
    * The original incoming Request object (transport URL intact).
    * Use `ctx.url` / `ctx.searchParams` for application logic — those have
@@ -228,22 +237,25 @@ export type HandlerContext<
    */
   pathname: string;
   /**
-   * The full URL object (with system params filtered).
+   * The full URL object (with internal `_rsc*` params stripped).
+   * Use this for application logic — routing, link generation, display.
    */
   url: URL;
+  /**
+   * The original request URL with all parameters intact, including
+   * internal `_rsc*` transport params. Use `ctx.url` for application
+   * logic — this is only needed for advanced cases like debugging
+   * or custom cache keying.
+   */
+  originalUrl: URL;
   /**
    * Platform bindings (DB, KV, secrets, etc.).
    * Access resources like `ctx.env.DB`, `ctx.env.KV`.
    */
   env: TEnv;
-  /**
-   * Middleware-injected variables.
-   * Access values like `ctx.var.user`, `ctx.var.permissions`.
-   */
-  var: DefaultVars;
   /**
    * Type-safe getter for middleware variables.
-   * Alternative to `ctx.var.key` with better autocomplete.
+   * Preferred way to read middleware-injected variables.
    *
    * @example
    * ```typescript
@@ -264,24 +276,18 @@ export type HandlerContext<
    * ```
    */
   set: {
-    <T>(contextVar: ContextVar<T>, value: T): void;
-  } & (<K extends keyof DefaultVars>(key: K, value: DefaultVars[K]) => void);
+    <T>(
+      contextVar: ContextVar<T>,
+      value: T,
+      options?: { cache?: boolean },
+    ): void;
+  } & (<K extends keyof DefaultVars>(
+    key: K,
+    value: DefaultVars[K],
+    options?: { cache?: boolean },
+  ) => void);
   /**
-   * Stub response for setting headers/cookies.
-   * Headers set here are merged into the final response.
-   *
-   * @example
-   * ```typescript
-   * route("product", (ctx) => {
-   *   ctx.res.headers.set("Cache-Control", "s-maxage=60");
-   *   return <ProductPage />;
-   * });
-   * ```
-   */
-  res: Response;
-  /**
-   * Shorthand for ctx.res.headers - response headers.
-   * Headers set here are merged into the final response.
+   * Response headers. Headers set here are merged into the final response.
    *
    * @example
    * ```typescript
@@ -295,8 +301,15 @@ export type HandlerContext<
   /**
    * Access loader data or push handle data.
    *
+   * Available in route handlers, layout handlers, middleware, server actions,
+   * and server components rendered within the request context.
+   *
    * For loaders: Returns a promise that resolves to the loader data.
    * Loaders are executed in parallel and memoized per request.
+   * Prefer DSL `loader()` + client `useLoader()` over `ctx.use(Loader)` —
+   * DSL loaders are always fresh and cache-safe. Use `ctx.use(Loader)` only
+   * when you need loader data in the handler itself (e.g., to set context
+   * variables or make routing decisions).
    *
    * For handles: Returns a push function to add data for this segment.
    * Handle data accumulates across all matched route segments.
@@ -304,10 +317,11 @@ export type HandlerContext<
    *
    * @example
    * ```typescript
-   * // Loader usage
-   * route("cart", async (ctx) => {
-   *   const cart = await ctx.use(CartLoader);
-   *   return <CartPage cart={cart} />;
+   * // Loader escape hatch — use when handler needs the data directly
+   * route("product", async (ctx) => {
+   *   const { product } = await ctx.use(ProductLoader);
+   *   ctx.set(Product, product); // make available to children
+   *   return <ProductPage />;
    * });
    *
    * // Handle usage - direct value
@@ -436,6 +450,10 @@ export type InternalHandlerContext<
   TEnv = DefaultEnv,
   TSearch extends SearchSchema = {},
 > = HandlerContext<TParams, TEnv, TSearch> & {
+  /** @internal Stub response for collecting headers/cookies. */
+  res: Response;
+  /** @internal Shared variable backing store for ctx.get()/ctx.set(). */
+  _variables: Record<string, any>;
   /** Prerender-only control flow helper, attached when the runtime context supports it. */
   passthrough?: () => unknown;
   /** Current segment ID for handle data attribution. */
@@ -523,30 +541,112 @@ export type RevalidateParams<TParams = GenericParams, TEnv = any> = Parameters<
  * })
  * ```
  */
+/**
+ * Revalidation function called during client-side navigation to decide whether
+ * a segment (layout, route, parallel slot, or loader) should be re-rendered.
+ *
+ * Return `true` to re-render, `false` to skip (keep client's current version),
+ * or `{ defaultShouldRevalidate: boolean }` to override the default for
+ * downstream segments.
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```ts
+ * // Re-render only when a cart action happened or browser signals staleness
+ * revalidate(({ actionId, stale }) =>
+ *   actionId?.includes("cart") || stale || false
+ * )
+ *
+ * // Always re-render when params change (default behavior made explicit)
+ * revalidate(({ defaultShouldRevalidate }) => defaultShouldRevalidate)
+ * ```
+ */
 export type ShouldRevalidateFn<TParams = GenericParams, TEnv = any> = (args: {
+  /** Route params from the page being navigated away from. */
   currentParams: TParams;
+  /** Full URL of the page being navigated away from. */
   currentUrl: URL;
+  /** Route params for the navigation target. */
   nextParams: TParams;
+  /** Full URL of the navigation target. */
   nextUrl: URL;
+  /**
+   * The router's default revalidation decision for this segment.
+   * `true` when params changed or the segment is new to the client.
+   * Return this when you want default behavior plus your own conditions.
+   */
   defaultShouldRevalidate: boolean;
+  /** Full handler context — access to `ctx.use()`, `ctx.env`, `ctx.params`, etc. */
   context: HandlerContext<TParams, TEnv>;
-  // Segment metadata (which segment is being evaluated):
+
+  // ── Segment metadata (which segment is being evaluated) ──────────────
+
+  /** The type of segment being revalidated. */
   segmentType: "layout" | "route" | "parallel";
-  layoutName?: string; // Layout name (e.g., "root", "shop", "auth") - only for layouts
-  slotName?: string; // Slot name (e.g., "@sidebar", "@modal") - only for parallels
-  // Action context (populated when revalidation triggered by server action):
-  actionId?: string; // Action identifier (e.g., "src/actions.ts#addToCart")
-  actionUrl?: URL; // URL where action was executed
-  actionResult?: any; // Return value from action execution
-  formData?: FormData; // FormData from action request
-  method?: string; // Request method: 'GET' for navigation, 'POST' for actions
-  routeName?: DefaultRouteName; // Route name of the navigation target (alias for toRouteName)
-  // Named-route identity for both ends of a navigation transition.
-  // Undefined for unnamed internal routes (those without a `name` option).
-  fromRouteName?: DefaultRouteName; // Route name being navigated away from
-  toRouteName?: DefaultRouteName; // Route name being navigated to
-  // Stale cache revalidation (SWR pattern):
-  stale?: boolean; // True if this is a stale cache revalidation request
+  /** Layout name (e.g., `"root"`, `"shop"`, `"auth"`). Only set for layout segments. */
+  layoutName?: string;
+  /** Slot name (e.g., `"@sidebar"`, `"@modal"`). Only set for parallel segments. */
+  slotName?: string;
+
+  // ── Action context (populated when revalidation is triggered by a server action) ──
+
+  /**
+   * Identifier of the server action that triggered revalidation.
+   * `undefined` during normal navigation (no action involved).
+   *
+   * Format: `"src/<path>#<exportName>"` — the file path is the source path
+   * relative to the project root, followed by `#` and the exported function name.
+   *
+   * This is stable and can be used for path-based matching to revalidate
+   * when any action in a module or directory fires:
+   *
+   * @example
+   * ```ts
+   * // Match a specific action
+   * revalidate(({ actionId }) => actionId === "src/actions/cart.ts#addToCart")
+   *
+   * // Match any action in the cart module
+   * revalidate(({ actionId }) => actionId?.includes("cart") ?? false)
+   *
+   * // Match any action under src/apps/store/actions/
+   * revalidate(({ actionId }) => actionId?.startsWith("src/apps/store/actions/") ?? false)
+   * ```
+   */
+  actionId?: string;
+  /** URL where the action was executed (the page the user was on when they triggered the action). */
+  actionUrl?: URL;
+  /** Return value from the action execution. Can be used to conditionally revalidate based on the action's outcome. */
+  actionResult?: any;
+  /** FormData from the action request body. Only set for form-based actions (not inline `"use server"` actions). */
+  formData?: FormData;
+  /** HTTP method: `"GET"` for navigation, `"POST"` for server actions. */
+  method?: string;
+
+  // ── Route identity ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  /** Route name of the navigation target. Alias for `toRouteName`. */
+  routeName?: DefaultRouteName;
+  /**
+   * Route name being navigated away from.
+   * `undefined` for unnamed internal routes (those without a `name` option).
+   */
+  fromRouteName?: DefaultRouteName;
+  /**
+   * Route name being navigated to.
+   * `undefined` for unnamed internal routes (those without a `name` option).
+   */
+  toRouteName?: DefaultRouteName;
+
+  // ── Staleness signal ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  /**
+   * `true` when the browser signals that data may be stale — typically because
+   * a server action was executed in this or another tab (`_rsc_stale` header).
+   *
+   * This is NOT segment cache staleness (loaders are never segment-cached).
+   * Use this to decide whether loader data should be re-fetched after an
+   * action that may have mutated backend state.
+   */
+  stale?: boolean;
 }) => boolean | { defaultShouldRevalidate: boolean };
 
 // MiddlewareFn is imported from "../router/middleware.js" and re-exported

package/src/types/loader-types.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { ContextVar } from "../context-var.js";
+import type { Handle } from "../handle.js";
 import type { MiddlewareFn } from "../router/middleware.js";
 import type { ScopedReverseFunction } from "../reverse.js";
 import type { SearchSchema, ResolveSearchSchema } from "../search-params.js";
@@ -53,16 +54,42 @@ export type LoaderContext<
   pathname: string;
   url: URL;
   env: TEnv;
-  var: DefaultVars;
   get: {
     <T>(contextVar: ContextVar<T>): T | undefined;
   } & (<K extends keyof DefaultVars>(key: K) => DefaultVars[K]);
   /**
-   * Access another loader's data (returns promise since loaders run in parallel)
+   * Access another loader's data, or read handle data after rendered().
+   *
+   * For loaders: returns a promise (loaders run in parallel).
+   * For handles: returns collected data (only after `await ctx.rendered()`).
    */
-  use: <T, TLoaderParams = any>(
-    loader: LoaderDefinition<T, TLoaderParams>,
-  ) => Promise<T>;
+  use: {
+    <T, TLoaderParams = any>(
+      loader: LoaderDefinition<T, TLoaderParams>,
+    ): Promise<T>;
+    <TData, TAccumulated = TData[]>(
+      handle: Handle<TData, TAccumulated>,
+    ): TAccumulated;
+  };
+  /**
+   * **Experimental.** Wait for all non-loader segments to settle.
+   *
+   * After the returned promise resolves, handle data is available via
+   * `ctx.use(handle)`. Only supported in DSL loaders on non-streaming
+   * trees (no `loading()`). Throws if called from a handler-invoked
+   * loader or when the tree uses streaming.
+   *
+   * @example
+   * ```typescript
+   * const PricesLoader = createLoader(async (ctx) => {
+   *   "use server";
+   *   await ctx.rendered();
+   *   const products = ctx.use(Products); // reads handle data
+   *   return pricing.getLive(products.map(p => p.id));
+   * });
+   * ```
+   */
+  rendered: () => Promise<void>;
   /**
    * HTTP method (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE)
    * Available when loader is called via load({ method: "POST", ... })
@@ -166,11 +193,11 @@ export type LoadOptions =
  *   return await db.products.findBySlug(slug);
  * });
  *
- * // Server usage
- * const cart = ctx.use(CartLoader);
+ * // Client usage (preferred — cache-safe, always fresh)
+ * const { data } = useLoader(CartLoader);
  *
- * // Client usage (fn is stripped, only name remains)
- * const cart = useLoader(CartLoader);
+ * // Server escape hatch (handler needs data directly)
+ * const cart = await ctx.use(CartLoader);
  * ```
  */
 export type LoaderDefinition<

package/src/types/route-config.ts

@@ -24,17 +24,26 @@ type ParseConstraint<T extends string> =
  * - :param(a|b)? -> { name: "param", optional: true, type: "a" | "b" }
  */
 type ExtractParamInfo<T extends string> =
-  // Optional + constrained: :param(a|b)?
-  T extends `${infer Name}(${infer Constraint})?`
+  // Optional + constrained (with optional suffix): :param(a|b)?suffix
+  T extends `${infer Name}(${infer Constraint})?${string}`
     ? { name: Name; optional: true; type: ParseConstraint<Constraint> }
-    : // Constrained only: :param(a|b)
-      T extends `${infer Name}(${infer Constraint})`
+    : // Constrained (with optional suffix): :param(a|b)suffix
+      T extends `${infer Name}(${infer Constraint})${string}`
       ? { name: Name; optional: false; type: ParseConstraint<Constraint> }
-      : // Optional only: :param?
-        T extends `${infer Name}?`
+      : // Optional (with optional suffix): :param?suffix
+        T extends `${infer Name}?${string}`
         ? { name: Name; optional: true; type: string }
-        : // Required: :param
-          { name: T; optional: false; type: string };
+        : // Param with dot-suffix: :param.html
+          T extends `${infer Name}.${string}`
+          ? { name: Name; optional: false; type: string }
+          : // Param with dash-suffix: :param-slug
+            T extends `${infer Name}-${string}`
+            ? { name: Name; optional: false; type: string }
+            : // Param with tilde-suffix: :param~v2
+              T extends `${infer Name}~${string}`
+              ? { name: Name; optional: false; type: string }
+              : // Required: :param (no suffix)
+                { name: T; optional: false; type: string };
 
 /**
  * Build param object from info

package/src/types/route-entry.ts

@@ -55,6 +55,13 @@ export interface RouteEntry<TEnv = any> {
     | Promise<() => Array<AllUseItems>>;
   mountIndex: number;
 
+  /**
+   * Router ID that owns this entry. Used to namespace the manifest cache
+   * so multi-router setups (host routing) don't share cached EntryData
+   * across routers with overlapping mountIndex + routeKey combinations.
+   */
+  routerId?: string;
+
   /**
    * Route keys in this entry that have pre-render handlers.
    * Used by the non-trie match path to set the `pr` flag.
@@ -62,7 +69,7 @@ export interface RouteEntry<TEnv = any> {
   prerenderRouteKeys?: Set<string>;
 
   /**
-   * Route keys in this entry that use `{ passthrough: true }`.
+   * Route keys in this entry that are wrapped with `Passthrough()`.
    * Used by the non-trie match path to set the `pt` flag.
    */
   passthroughRouteKeys?: Set<string>;

package/src/types/segments.ts

@@ -51,9 +51,11 @@ export interface ResolvedSegment {
   // Loader-specific fields
   loaderId?: string; // For loaders: the loader $$id identifier
   loaderData?: any; // For loaders: the resolved data from loader execution
+  parallelLoading?: ReactNode; // For parallel-owned loaders: the parallel's loading fallback
   // Intercept loader fields (for streaming loader data in parallel segments)
   loaderDataPromise?: Promise<any[]> | any[]; // Loader data promise or resolved array
   loaderIds?: string[]; // IDs ($$id) of loaders for this segment
+  parallelLoaderSources?: any[]; // Internal: preserves stable aggregate promise across renders
   // Error-specific fields
   error?: ErrorInfo; // For error segments: the error information
   // NotFound-specific fields
@@ -124,11 +126,6 @@ export interface MatchResult {
    * Used by ctx.reverse() for local name resolution.
    */
   routeName?: string;
-  /**
-   * Server-Timing header value (only present when debugPerformance is enabled)
-   * Can be added to response headers for DevTools integration
-   */
-  serverTiming?: string;
   /**
    * State of named slots for this route match
    * Key is slot name (e.g., "@modal"), value is slot state

package/src/urls/path-helper-types.ts

@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@ import type {
   UseItems,
 } from "../route-types.js";
 import type { SearchSchema } from "../search-params.js";
-import type { PrerenderHandlerDefinition } from "../prerender.js";
+import type {
+  PrerenderHandlerDefinition,
+  PassthroughHandlerDefinition,
+} from "../prerender.js";
 import type { StaticHandlerDefinition } from "../static-handler.js";
 import type { InterceptWhenFn } from "../server/context";
 import type {
@@ -70,6 +73,7 @@ export type PathFn<TEnv> = <
         ctx: HandlerContext<TParams, TEnv, TSearch>,
       ) => ReactNode | Promise<ReactNode> | Response | Promise<Response>)
     | PrerenderHandlerDefinition<TParams>
+    | PassthroughHandlerDefinition<TParams, TEnv>
     | StaticHandlerDefinition<TParams>,
   optionsOrUse?: PathOptions<TName, TSearch> | (() => UseItems<RouteUseItem>),
   use?: () => UseItems<RouteUseItem>,
@@ -280,7 +284,10 @@ export type PathHelpers<TEnv> = {
   /**
    * Attach a loading component to the current route/layout
    */
-  loading: (component: ReactNode, options?: { ssr?: boolean }) => LoadingItem;
+  loading: (
+    component: ReactNode | (() => ReactNode),
+    options?: { ssr?: boolean },
+  ) => LoadingItem;
 
   /**
    * Attach an error boundary to catch errors in this segment

package/src/urls/path-helper.ts

@@ -12,10 +12,11 @@ import {
   getNamePrefix,
   getRootScoped,
 } from "../server/context";
-import { invariant } from "../errors";
+import { invariant, DataNotFoundError } from "../errors";
 import { validateUserRouteName } from "../route-name.js";
 import {
   isPrerenderHandler,
+  isPassthroughHandler,
   type PrerenderHandlerDefinition,
 } from "../prerender.js";
 import {
@@ -34,6 +35,10 @@ import type {
   JsonResponsePathFn,
   TextResponsePathFn,
 } from "./path-helper-types.js";
+import {
+  resolveHandlerUse,
+  mergeHandlerUse,
+} from "../route-definition/resolve-handler-use.js";
 
 /**
  * Check if a value is a valid use item
@@ -142,6 +147,12 @@ export function createPathHelper<TEnv>(): PathFn<TEnv> {
       use = maybeUse;
     }
 
+    // Merge handler.use() defaults with explicit use()
+    // Response routes (path.json, path.text, etc.) only allow middleware + cache
+    const handlerUseFn = resolveHandlerUse(handler);
+    const mountSite = resolveResponseType(options) ? "response" : "path";
+    const mergedUse = mergeHandlerUse(handlerUseFn, use, mountSite);
+
     // Get prefixes from context (set by include())
     const urlPrefix = getUrlPrefix();
     const namePrefix = getNamePrefix();
@@ -176,14 +187,31 @@ export function createPathHelper<TEnv>(): PathFn<TEnv> {
     }
 
     // Ensure handler is always a function (wrap ReactNode or extract from prerender/static def)
+    // For prerender stubs (production builds where handler code is evicted),
+    // handler.handler is undefined — provide a notFound fallback so requests
+    // for non-prerendered params get 404 instead of "handler is not a function".
     const wrappedHandler: Handler<any, any, TEnv> =
       typeof handler === "function"
         ? (handler as Handler<any, any, TEnv>)
-        : isPrerenderHandler(handler)
-          ? (handler.handler as Handler<any, any, TEnv>)
-          : isStaticHandler(handler)
-            ? (handler.handler as Handler<any, any, TEnv>)
-            : () => handler;
+        : isPassthroughHandler(handler)
+          ? typeof handler.prerenderDef.handler === "function"
+            ? (handler.prerenderDef.handler as Handler<any, any, TEnv>)
+            : () => {
+                throw new DataNotFoundError(
+                  "No prerender data found for this route",
+                );
+              }
+          : isPrerenderHandler(handler)
+            ? typeof handler.handler === "function"
+              ? (handler.handler as Handler<any, any, TEnv>)
+              : () => {
+                  throw new DataNotFoundError(
+                    "No prerender data found for this route",
+                  );
+                }
+            : isStaticHandler(handler)
+              ? (handler.handler as Handler<any, any, TEnv>)
+              : () => handler;
 
     const entry = {
       id: namespace,
@@ -199,16 +227,23 @@ export function createPathHelper<TEnv>(): PathFn<TEnv> {
       errorBoundary: [],
       notFoundBoundary: [],
       layout: [],
-      parallel: [],
+      parallel: {},
       intercept: [],
       loader: [],
       ...(urlPrefix ? { mountPath: urlPrefix } : {}),
-      ...(isPrerenderHandler(handler)
+      ...(isPassthroughHandler(handler)
         ? {
             isPrerender: true as const,
-            prerenderDef: handler as PrerenderHandlerDefinition,
+            prerenderDef: handler.prerenderDef as PrerenderHandlerDefinition,
+            isPassthrough: true as const,
+            liveHandler: handler.liveHandler as Handler<any, any, TEnv>,
           }
-        : {}),
+        : isPrerenderHandler(handler)
+          ? {
+              isPrerender: true as const,
+              prerenderDef: handler as PrerenderHandlerDefinition,
+            }
+          : {}),
       ...(isStaticHandler(handler)
         ? {
             isStaticPrerender: true as const,
@@ -264,9 +299,9 @@ export function createPathHelper<TEnv>(): PathFn<TEnv> {
       registerSearchSchema(routeName, options.search);
     }
 
-    // Run use callback if provided
-    if (use && typeof use === "function") {
-      const result = store.run(namespace, entry, use)?.flat(3);
+    // Run merged use callback (handler.use defaults + explicit use) if present
+    if (mergedUse) {
+      const result = store.run(namespace, entry, mergedUse)?.flat(3);
       invariant(
         Array.isArray(result) && result.every((item) => isValidUseItem(item)),
         `path() use() callback must return an array of use items [${namespace}]`,

package/src/urls/pattern-types.ts

@@ -7,6 +7,18 @@ import type {
 } from "../route-types.js";
 import type { SearchSchema } from "../search-params.js";
 import { RESPONSE_TYPE } from "./response-types.js";
+import type { DefaultEnv } from "../types.js";
+import type { PathHelpers } from "./path-helper-types.js";
+
+/**
+ * Builder function accepted by urls() and as a shorthand for routes()/urls option.
+ * When passed directly to routes() or createRouter({ urls }), it is wrapped in urls() automatically.
+ */
+export type UrlBuilder<
+  TEnv = DefaultEnv,
+  TItems extends readonly (AllUseItems | readonly AllUseItems[])[] =
+    readonly AllUseItems[],
+> = (helpers: PathHelpers<TEnv>) => TItems;
 
 /**
  * Sentinel type for unnamed routes.

package/src/urls/response-types.ts

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type {
   DefaultReverseRouteMap,
   DefaultVars,
 } from "../types/global-namespace.js";
+import type { UseItems, ResponseRouteUseItem } from "../route-types.js";
 
 /**
  * Reverse function for response handler contexts.
@@ -38,9 +39,12 @@ export const RESPONSE_TYPE: unique symbol = Symbol.for(
  * Handler that must return Response (not ReactNode).
  * Used by path.image(), path.stream(), path.any() (binary/streaming data).
  */
-export type ResponseHandler<TParams = Record<string, string>, TEnv = any> = (
+export type ResponseHandler<TParams = Record<string, string>, TEnv = any> = ((
   ctx: ResponseHandlerContext<TParams, TEnv>,
-) => Response | Promise<Response>;
+) => Response | Promise<Response>) & {
+  /** Composable default DSL items merged when the handler is mounted. */
+  use?: () => UseItems<ResponseRouteUseItem>;
+};
 
 /**
  * JSON-serializable value type for auto-wrap support.
@@ -60,9 +64,12 @@ export type JsonValue =
 export type JsonResponseHandler<
   TParams = Record<string, string>,
   TEnv = any,
-> = (
+> = ((
   ctx: ResponseHandlerContext<TParams, TEnv>,
-) => JsonValue | Response | Promise<JsonValue | Response>;
+) => JsonValue | Response | Promise<JsonValue | Response>) & {
+  /** Composable default DSL items merged when the handler is mounted. */
+  use?: () => UseItems<ResponseRouteUseItem>;
+};
 
 /**
  * Handler for text-based response routes (text, html, xml).
@@ -71,9 +78,12 @@ export type JsonResponseHandler<
 export type TextResponseHandler<
   TParams = Record<string, string>,
   TEnv = any,
-> = (
+> = ((
   ctx: ResponseHandlerContext<TParams, TEnv>,
-) => string | Response | Promise<string | Response>;
+) => string | Response | Promise<string | Response>) & {
+  /** Composable default DSL items merged when the handler is mounted. */
+  use?: () => UseItems<ResponseRouteUseItem>;
+};
 
 /**
  * Lighter handler context for response routes.